I think it is simply what the Bible tells:
He causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free and the slave, to be given marks on their right hands, or on their foreheads; and that no one would be able to buy or to sell, unless he has that mark, the name of the beast or the number of his name.
Rev. 13:16-17
And the beast seems to be the one world government.
Hi I would offer that hand and forehead represent the will and power to do or perform a work . Not a literal hand or forehead. The gospel is hid in that parable the signified word inspired of God .Rev. 13:16-17
I think the mark of Cain the restless wanderer is part or the beginning of the existing one world government. The kingdoms of this world came under the god of this world .(you shall surely not die)
The lust of the flesh the lust of the eye as that which produces the pride(false) of this life. It is not of God but is of the father of lies who works in mankind to sell the truth of the gospel and not buy the wisdom of Christ our unseen God .
1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the
lust of the
flesh, and the
lust of the
eyes, and the
pride of life, is not of the
Father, but is of the
world.
Proverbs 23:23 Buy the
truth, and sell
it not; also
wisdom, and
instruction, and
understanding
In that way the reference found in
Revelation 13:17 to buying and selling is not the things of this world. That would appear to be a lying sign to not wonder after.
Buy the unseen things of God the gospel .Not like that of Esau who saw no value in the unseen spiritual things selling his birth rite for a cup of goat soup.
That would all together seem to point to unredeemed mankind the beast of the field of clay. .The result of the fall when the glory of God departed and corruption under the Sun began.
The wage of sin, sufferings, dying leading toward death began . The wage that Cain said he could not bear (Genesis4:13)as did Abel in whom God had favor on could bear, receiving rest, yoked with the Spirit of Christ that worked in Abel. . . with a promise of a new body in the new glorious order.
It is referenced as the blood of Abel through the blood of Zacharias that cries out to be clothed in the incorruptible new bodies that all will receive on the last day under sun which all die not receiving. Hebrew 11:39.
Genesis 6:11-13 King James Version (KJV) The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold,
it was corrupt; for
all flesh had corrupted
his way upon the earth. And God said unto Noah,
The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.